Euro reward for ex MP and Labour veteran Connarty

Michael Connarty (68), who represented Falkirk East and then the Linlithgow and East Falkirk Constituency for 23 years between 1992 and 2015, has been awarded the title of honorary associate of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Mr Connarty was a member of the Euro Scrutiny Select Committee responsible for examining in detail the legislation set by the European Parliament in 1998, appointed a UK Parliament representative on PACE in 2011 and elected chair of its sub committee on education, youth and sport in 2013.

He helped prepare reports on youth access to fundamental rights and governance and corruption in football with FIFA, and made recommendations on both which were adopted.

He was also involved in a follow-up report on football governance reforms in 2014 following the decision by FIFA to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

The veteran Labour politician, who lost his seat to the SNPs Martyn Day at the 2015 General Election, accepted his award in Strasbourg, the home of the Euro Parliament, on Monday from President of the Assembly Pedro Agramunt of Spain.

Mr Connarty said: “The task of the 47 countries in the Council of Europe is very different from the European Union as it supports the Court of Human Rights. Fighting for human rights equality in all countries was a constant reminder of the purpose of political struggle.”